What is a caucus?
The word caucus is a North American Indian word, thought to be of Algonquin origin, meaning a gathering of the ruling tribal chiefs. The modern definition describes caucuses as a process of political party members gathering to make policy decisions and to select candidates.
When is the 2008 Iowa Caucus?
The 2008 Iowa Caucus will be held January 3, 2008, at precincts across Iowa.
Who Can Attend a Precinct Caucus?
Precinct caucuses are open meetings. Any one can attend and observe, but only registered Democrats can participate.
Who Can Participate?
All participants must be Democrats registered to vote in the precinct. A list of previous caucus attendees and active Democrats will be available at the caucuses. If you are not on the list, you will be asked to register as a Democrat that night.
Seventeen-year-olds, who will be 18 by the general election on November 4, 2008, will be allowed to fully participate.
Where Can I Find My Caucus Location?
Call the Iowa Democratic Party 515-244-7292
Locate your Precinct Caucus Location:
http://www.iowafirstcaucus.org/caucus_finder.php
Caucus locations must be published in local “official” newspapers. So watch your papers. They may also put them on their websites.
What Is The Timing For The Caucus?
The caucus is called to order by the temporary chair at 6:30 PM
The caucus can not divide into preference groups before 7:00 PM.
To be counted in a preference group, you must be there at the time the caucus divides. If you arrive after the count is taken, you will not be counted, although you can still participate.
How Is Viability Determined?
This depends on the number of delegates to be elected in that precinct.
If one delegate is to be elected, the caucus as a whole elects the delegate.
If two delegates are to be elected, preference groups must contain at least 25% of the caucus attendees in order to be viable.
If three delegates are to be elected, the total caucus attendees are divided by six (6) to determine viability. (For example: 120 caucus attendees ÷ 6 =20 people to be viable.)
If four or more delegates are to be elected, preference groups must contain at least 15% of the caucus attendees in order to be viable.
Any preference group that is not viable must be given time to realign with preference groups that are viable or with another preference group that is also not viable.
You can not have more preference groups than the number of delegates to be elected. If this happens, the smallest preference groups must be given an opportunity to realign.
How Are Delegates Elected?
Once preference groups are viable, the caucus chair will use the following formula to allocate the number of delegates for each preference group.
[Number of members in group X total number of delegates] ÷ total number of eligible caucus attenders = number of delegates
Example: 100 in group X 6 delegates = 600
600 ÷ 200 caucus attenders = 3 delegates
Once each preference group knows how many delegates they can elect, they do so within their preference group.
Once preference groups elect all the delegates, the caucus comes back together as one group and must ratify the slate of delegates and alternates.
What if I am planning on attending a Republican Caucus?
If you are planning on attending a Republican caucus, you can find more information here http://www.iowagop.net/inner.asp?z=4 or call the Republican Party of Iowa at (515) 282-8105.
